Improvement in map-drawing apparatus



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GEORGE S. ORMSIBY, OF XENIA, OHIO.

Letters Patent No. 97,432, dated November 30, 1869.

' www IMPROVEMENT IN MAP-DRAWING- APPARATUS.

`The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and mal-zingV part of the same.

To all whom it may concern;-

Be it known that I, GEORGE SORMSBY, of Xenia, in the county of Greene, and State `of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Map- Projectors; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, and to' the letters of reference marked thereon, like letters indicating like parts wherever they occur. r

To enable others skilled in the art, to construct and use my invention, I will proceed to describe it.

My invention relates tothe drawing of maps; and

It consists in providing a set of implements or devices especially constructed for that purpose, as hereinafter more fully explained. l

The drawings represent plan views of the devices, and of the manner of applying or using the same.

It is well known that the drawing of maps, by scholars, is one of the best and most effectual methods of teaching geography, and of lixing in the mind of the students the facts to be learned, especially as to the elementary principles, and map-drawingis now taught in nearly all schools, for these reasons. As generally taught, however, no special implements or` toolsare provided, and hence the process is very roughly and inaccurately done on` the black-board orslate, or it is done by copying with tracing-paper.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and cheap set of implements, by which the pupil will be enabled to perform the operation with celerity and accuracy.

To accomplish this, I provide, in the first instance, an oblong rectangular frame, A, as represented in Fignre 1, which may be used as the frame of a slate or black-board, either with or wit-hout the slate or black'- board inserted in it.' It 'may be made of Yany convenient size.

This frame A, I make with an arm, B, projecting at right angles from one side, at the centre; and each face of this frame I divide -by lines into five uniform and parallel spaces, extending entirely around it, these spaces being indicated by the letters a, 1), c, d and c, iig. 1. These spaces 1 subdivide by cross-lines at `proper intervals, both at top, bottom, and sides ofthe frame.

0n one side of the frame, these cross-lines indicate the points Where the parallels of latitude begin and end, as shown by the dotted and unbroken curves described, from the centres N A, EU, and AS, iig. l.

On the other side of the frame, these cross-lines indicate the points where the parallels of latitude begin and terminate, also where the meridian-lines begin and terminate, these meridian and parallel points being on opposite sides of the same parallel space.

The object of' having ivespaccs and live sets of subdivisions on one side, is to. provide one set for each of i vand live sets of subdivisions on the other side of the frame, is to provide one set for each group of States into which vthe States of the United States may be divided, viz, New England or North Atlantic States, Middle Atlantic States, Gulf States, Central States, or for any other similar grouping.

Upon the arm B, projecting centrally from the frame A, at its side, I make two small holes or indentations as centres for the leg of a pair of dividers, or similar instrument, from which parallels'may be struck, as represented by the red lines in lig. 1.

The inner one of these points, marked AS, is to be used in preparing a map of Asia, the lines in that case heilig more curved, as represented by the dotted lines.

The outer point, marked EU, is intended to draw the parallels for the map of Europe. The lines are less curved, as shown by the plain red lilies.

At the top of the frame A, at the centre, on or near aprojec'tion, which may be made at that point, I make another hole or indentation, marked N A, which serves as a centre from which to describe the parallels of,"

North America, represented by the dotted dark lines,

gOn that side of the frame A, prepared for the map ofthe grand divisions, the inner space is intended for North America, the second for. South America, the third for Europe, thev fourth for Asia, and the fifth for Africa.

In preparing maps of North and of South America, N A, fig. l, is regarded as the top of the frame, or north. l

In preparing maps for Europe, Asia, and Africa, the arm B is regarded as the top ofthe frame, or north.

On the opposite side of the frame, prepared for thc' groups of States ofthe United States, the first or in.

ner division is appropriated to New England the second to the Middle Atlantic States; the third to the Gulf States; the fourth to the Central States; andthe fifth to the Pacific States.

In preparing maps for the New England, Middle, Central, and Pacific States, the end N A is north. In preparing al map for the Gulf States, the arm 1S is north.

This frame A, tig. 1, constructed as hereinbefore described, I call a graduated frame for slate or blackboard.

For describing the meridians for maps of the grand divisions, I provide ve sets of rulers, each set ccmposed of two or more single rulers, either straight or curved. I call each set a compound meridian ruler. The ycompound meridian ruler for describing the meridians of 1F01-th America, is represented by Figure 10. It fills one-half ofthe inner space of the frame A, fig. 1, and its curves'correspond, in their distances apart, and in their degree of curvature, to the same properties with respect to the parallels drawn for the same grand division. They may be constructed of wood or metal; they may be made from a single board, by cutting openings in the board, as represented by iig. .10, or they may be made of separate pieces of material, and fastened together.

When the meridians of North America arc to be drawn, vthe compound ruler, fig. 10, is placed within the frame A, fig. l, so that the angle a' will exactly it into the upper left-hand corner of the frame. While in this position, lilies are drawn with a pencil along the edges b c d c. rlhe'compound ruler is then reversed, so that a coincides with the upper right-hand corner ofthe frame A. In this position, lines are drawn along the edges b c d.

The compound ruler for the meridian of South America, is similarly constrcted and similarly used, as seen in g. 3.

'lhe compound rulers for the meridians of Europe, Asia, and Africa, are similarly constructed and similarly used, their length being equal to the width of space within the frame A, fig. 1, and their greatest width being equal to halt' the length of said space. These are severally represented in Figures 4 and 5.

The compound ruler for North America, is so constructed that four lines can be drawn with it; South America, three; Europe, tive; Asia, four; and Africa, five.

' Each of these compound rulers may be constructed with a greater or less number of single rulers, accord ing to thc number of meridians in each case required to be drawn.

For making maps of the hemispheres, I provide a frame, E, with a circular opening of the size that the map is to be made, and at opposite sides I secure .two loops f, and also two at top and bottom, the two latter standing at right angles to the former. v

These loops are intended to hold an arm, F, as

shown in Figure 8, this arm being made. with shoulders at its opposite ends, to regulate the distance that the arm is to be stepped in, the shoulders being placed at different distances from the two ends, as clearly represented in the drawing. This arm is provided with a series of holes or indentatious ;`also, as centres,from which to strike the lines representing parallels and meridians. For making the former, the short end of the arm F is inserted rst into one of the loops at top or bottom, and the parallels drawn on one-half, as in dicated in fig. 8.' rlhe arm is then inserted into the opposite loop, and the other half made in a similar manner.`

lo form the meridians, the long end of the arm F is inserted, so as to project to the centre of the frame E, and the lincs then drawn from the points indicated thereon, as represented also in fig. 8. lhe inneredge f this circular frame is provided with marks indicating the proper position of the equator and parallels, and also the poles. l call this part of my apparatus a graduated circular frame, with adj ustable arm for eentres. By these means, I provide a-very simple and eicient apparatus, specially adapted foruse in schools.

Having thus described my invention,

1. A graduated frame, A, for slate or black-board, provided with the parallel spaces a b c d c, suitably marked, for indicating the propel' position of parallels and meridians on maps to be drawn, combined with thc arm B constructed with centres as described also, with the centre at N A, either with or without the projections at that point, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination ofthe frame A, constructed as described, its arms and centres as described, and the compound rulers for making the lines of longitude, substaxitially as set forth.

3. The graduated circular fi'ame, constructed as described, for drawing the hemispheres, combined with the adjustable arm, with fixed centres for the parallels and meridians, substantially as set forth.

GEO. S. ORMSBY.

Witnesses:

M. BARLow, C. W. Montos. 

